In the abc’s of running a successful business, G stands for Goals. It is proven that all successful people are intensely goal oriented. One of their rules of success is: It doesn’t matter where you are coming from; all that matters is where you are going.
Goals are extremely important as they give you and your organization a sense of meaning and purpose – a sense of direction. Achieving your goals are all in what you think about most in what you want and how to get it. Why, because you become what you think about most of the time.
The size, scope, and detail of the goals you choose to think about most of the time are completely up to you. To unlock and unleash your full potential, shouldn’t you then make it a habit of setting some high achievement goals that will stretch you and your team to get the juices flowing in the accomplishing of it?
The reality is that the ultimate purpose of all human action is the achievement of personal happiness. Setting goals, working towards them day by day and ultimately achieving them is the key to happiness in life.
Now knowing all this, why would someone not set goals? They could fear failure of not achieving them – failure hurts – so they sabotage themselves by not setting them. They could think that they’re not worthy enough to accomplish them. Actually by not setting goals you are still creating your outcome, realize though that it just might not be the outcome that you desire.
How does one set good goals? First you must make them S.M.A.R.T. Goals. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results Oriented and Time Frame Bound. Let’s take a look at these in greater clarity…
Specific: The greater clarity you have regarding your true goals, the more of your potential you will unleash. Invest whatever time is required to become absolutely clear about exactly what you want and how you can best achieve it.
Measurable: Make sure you can absolutely measure the results of your goal. An example would be setting an exact amount of profits you want to achieve in your business posed to just more money.
Achievable: Make sure your goal is both a stretch in which will make you go further than you have before but also real enough that will provide the proper belief in the attainment of that goal.
Results Oriented: Be sure to have a visible clear outcome of which you want to obtain.
Time Frame Bound: Goals are just dreams with a time line attached so be clear by when this goal is going to be accomplished.
It would be useful to share a study done at Dominican University in California where it revealed that writing down your goals contributed to a 42% increase in goal achievement. What’s more important is that this study found that adding an accountability partner works even better. Those who translated their goals into actions, made a commitment to an accountability partner, and provided weekly progress reports increased goal achievement by 78%.
Is a 78% increase in the probability of your success worth the effort? Absolutely – Yes!
QUESTION: Have you ever experienced a breakout success as a result of writing down your goals or getting an accountability partner? Please share your experience.
Now that you understand the importance of writing goals – don’t make the mistake that so many do…hinging all of your success entirely on the goals. It’s important to understand that goals are no replacement for purpose. When you get clear on your purpose, your why of what you are doing what you’re doing. This will be the fuel to motivate you in taking the daily action necessary towards achieving your goals.
EXERCISE: Look at your personal and work life today and identify how your own thinking has created your world. What should you or could you change?
What one action should you take immediately as the result of your answers to this question?
In conclusion always remember that actions speak louder than goals. Run hard! Have Fun! Go for it! You just may be surprised what you get.